Leboeuf aims strange dig at Trippier ahead of England vs France quarter-final
Frank Leboeuf has criticised England defender Kieran Trippier after seeing him go down against Iran when someone stepped on his toes.
Newcastle United defender Trippier started the Three Lions’ opening two World Cup matches as Gareth Southgate’s side beat Iran 6-2 and were held to a goalless draw against the USA.
He played the final 35 minutes of England’s final Group B match against Wales before he was an unused substitute in their 3-0 win over Senegal in the round of 16.
If England play a back five against France in the quarter-final, which some supporters are calling for, then Trippier is likely to start.
Former France and Chelsea defender Leboeuf is becoming disillusioned with the “lack of physicality in the game” and used Trippier as an example.
“Football has just changed so much in recent years; and that lack of physicality in the game is the reason I’m less interested in it right now,” Leboeuf told Ladbrokes.
“You saw in England’s opener against Iran, Kieran Trippier was complaining about somebody stepping on his toes.
“It’s something you’ll see probably 10 times a game nowadays, and I can’t believe it.
“Maybe they’ve completely changed the fabrics of the boots or something, but that never, ever happened in my time.
“A player would step on your foot, for sure, and you’d say, ‘Wow, okay, that hurts’. But you’d get on with it and maybe do it back to him next time.
“But now, someone steps on your toe and it’s this huge deal and the game stops to check you’re okay. It’s completely different.”
Jude Bellingham, who has been one of England’s standout performers at the World Cup, can’t wait to show the “dog” in him when they face France on Saturday.
“I think when you’ve got the dog, you’re just born with it, really,” Bellingham said.
“The way I was raised in football, you had to have that dog in you a little bit and I go into the games knowing every game’s a war and you’ve got to be up for it. I think that’s something I have.
“There was a foul (in the Senegal game) that I didn’t think was a foul, I kind of held onto the ball and moved up, me and the lad were both just staring at each other for a minute straight and I just think, ‘don’t be the one that loses’.
“I feel like off the pitch, I’m a nice guy but when I get onto the pitch, something kind of takes over me, to be honest, I feel like you’ve got no friends out there except the ones wearing the same kit.
“Anyone who is not wearing that, it’s, it’s kind of, no beef… but there is something that’s a little bit personal.”
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